M.D. of Bonnyville Council Highlights

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BONNYVILLE NO. 87
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS November 22, 2017

Keeping you informed of the services, business and development that affect YOU!

#1 Council Passes 2018 Interim Budget – The Municipal District of Bonnyville Council approved a $90.4 million interim, balanced budget (not including school and lodge requisitions) at its meeting on Wednesday. With economic drivers and community support at the forefront of the M.D.’s new Council, the interim budget delivers Council priorities in the following areas:
• Holds municipal mill rates constant with prior years’ mill rates
• Funding for a Rural Crime Prevention Program at the cost of $215,000
• Implements a new property class for Small Business to reduce the tax burden by 10 %
• Establishes a $1 million legacy fund.
Reeve Greg Sawchuk says, “Council has chosen a conservative approach to our first budget concentrating on tax relief and controlled spending on new initiatives. Residents may see up to a 10 % assessment reduction in 2018, and with a frozen mill rate, ratepayers may see a reduction in their taxes.”
The 2018 budget will be funded through $61.8 million in municipal taxes, $8.7 million in government grants and contributions and $10.1 million from General Revenues, such as fees, equipment replacement program, and reserves. A special financing arrangement will secure additional funds for the La Corey Resource Road in the amount of up to $14 million. The proposed debt servicing of the road will be offset by an annual $1.2 million contribution over 15 years from Improvement District (ID) 349. A further $4.5 million will come in the form of transfers from surplus (reserve funds carried over from projects and funds remaining from previous years’ budgets).
Next year will see the M.D. again cooperating with our urban neighbours, with $5 million set aside for the Inter Municipal Cooperation Program (IMCP). Allocations will be made in 2018 based on an equalized per capita assessment.
The 2018 budget also includes a $25,000 contribution to help fund a Mental Health Navigator; $3.2 million for Phase 6 of the Ardmore Underground project; $1.6 million for the Highway 28 Underpass to connect the trail network from the Town of Bonnyville to Vezeau Beach, with $800,000 coming from reserves and $800,000 from the 2018 budget; $6 million for the Wolf Lake Road Reconstruction; $400,000 each for Master Drainage Plans for Moose Lake and Crane Lake; $400,000 for Annual Trail Paving; $600,000 for repairing the bridge on Columbine Creek; $30,000 for improvements at Kinosoo Ridge and a $600,000 fund to begin saving for the upgrade or replacement of the green chairlift; $75,000 for change rooms at Minnie Lake M.D. Park and $60,000 for a Major Emergency Plan Review and update.
Additionally, Council has agreed to continue to fund the Seniors Transportation Grant at $60,000, while Community Halls and Societies will have access to $575,000 for capital and operating costs.
Continuing in the vein of cooperation, the M.D. will provide funding support for the Bonnyville and Cold Lake museums, Beaver River Regional Waste Management Commission, Family and Community Social Services (FCSS) in Bonnyville and Cold Lake, Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority and the libraries in the two major urban communities. The M.D. is also working with neighbouring municipalities to initiate joint programs to access the new $6 million Intermunicipal Cooperation fund through ID 349.
M.D. Council will take another look and pass the final 2018 budget in the spring, after receiving the Education and Lakeland Lodge Requisitions from the provincial government.

#2 ID 349 Negotiations – Reeve Greg Sawchuk says he is pleased with the results of the Improvement District (ID 349) negotiations with the Minister of Municipal Affairs. “The M.D. will receive $1 million a year to cover the annual maintenance costs on the La Corey North Resource Road. In addition, the M.D. will receive $1.2 million over 15 years to cover the debentured costs of applying a much needed asphalt overlay on the road. While the M.D. would have preferred the province take over the La Corey North Resource Road and service it as a provincial highway, we are happy the provincial government included $2.2 million for the La Corey North Resource Road in the funding formula.”
Sawchuk says the M.D. intends to be a good regional partner when it comes to future Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) negotiations with neighbouring municipalities. “While it is not possible to make up for all the funds lost in the ID 349 negotiations, we will definitely pay for the services M.D. residents use in our neighbouring urban municipalities. Our intent is not to fight with our neighbours. We look forward to working with regional municipalities to access the new $6 million ID 349 Intermunicipal Fund created by a 20 percent holdback, that benefits the region as a whole.”

#3 You’re Invited – All regional residents, from St. Paul, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche and the smaller communities in between, are invited to the Regional Crime Forum on Friday, December 1 at the Bonnyville Senior Citizens’ Drop-In Centre 4813-47 Avenue, going from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Regional municipal politicians, MP David Yurdiga, MLA Scott Cyr, RCMP, M.D. Peace Officers, and representatives from Rural Crime Watch groups will be in attendance to discuss concerns.

#4 Ag and Waste Update – Council agreed to place cardboard and plastic recycling bins at the Marie Lake bin site. A six-yard bin will also be placed in the Ardmore Community Hall parking lot. The bin will also be for the use of the Senior’s Hall next door and community members. Beaver dam removal will continue for the next two weeks, as water is still moving through culverts. Once permanent frost moves in, staff will wrap up the program. Over 400 producers have registered for the Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI) program. Total claims in the third quarter are $71,000, up 13.9 percent from last year. If the trend continues, the VSI program will come in on budget at $108,000. Waste staff are currently improving the surface water runoff containment at the landfill sites to meet Alberta Environment and Parks standards. The containment cells will be pumped out once they are full of water and pass all contamination testing.

#5 Transportation and Utilities News – JMB Crushing systems was awarded the 2018 Winter Gravel Haul at $11.76 a tonne including loading and stockpiling for a total cost of $2,352,000. Council approved a change to the 2018 Road Construction Priorities list requested by Ward 4 Councillor Ed Duchesne. Range Road 454 from Township Road 621 to Twp. Rd 622 was replaced with two miles on Twp. Rd. 640 from Rge. Rd. 471 to Rge. Rd. 473. The Night Shift Crew is travelling priority routes and monitoring road conditions for the department and all equipment has been switched over to winter operations. Crews will be working on the Birch Grove drainage area as conditions allow. Once the frost sets in, work will be suspended until next year. The Construction and Paving Crews are done for the season. The Tech Committee for the new waterline from Cold Lake to Bonnyville is meeting regularly. Land agents are working on securing the project’s work space and right of way for the proposed alignment. Consultants are scheduled to post the project’s tenders in January 2018. Consultants have completed the design recommendations for Bridge File 72618 over Columbine Creek and are working on the tender documents to replace this structure.

#6 Public Safety Update – Public Safety Officers have been responding to traffic complaints in North Shore Heights, Ardmore, and on the La Corey Road, Wolf Lake Road and Vezeau Beach Road. Ward 2 Councillor Darcy Skarsen requested Public Safety to look into the feasibility of reducing the 80 km speed limit on the North Shore Heights Road from the water treatment plant to Highway 660. Officers are patrolling the La Corey North Resource Road to monitor aggressive drivers who are passing the snowplows in an unsafe manner. Now that winter driving conditions are upon us, Public Safety is encouraging everyone to drive safe. School Resource Officers (SRO) attended several Remembrance Day ceremonies. SROs have also been doing Right Choices and Life Choices Programs at Glendon, Cold Lake High and Dr. Brosseau schools. There were also Body Image, Sexting and Drug Awareness presentations at Glendon, Cold Lake High and Assumption schools.

#7 Planning and Development News – First Reading was given to cancel a portion of Road Plan 534 BM within the NE-9-63-2-W4M to be consolidated back into the quarter section provided that the landowner purchases the land at the rate of $1,500 per acre.

#8 Parks, Recreation & Culture Update – Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort is getting set to open its runs on December 9. Snow making in the Tube Park is complete, runs off the blue chair are done and terrain park building on the bunny hill and one other trail started on November 19. Work on the Green Chair runs began on November 17, and the remaining terrain park builds start on December 3. Cross-country ski trails at Muriel Lake M.D. Park are open. A trail map is on the M.D. website and on Facebook. Parks crews are still taking down trees in Crane Lake West M.D. Park. The ditching project at Crane Lake East Park is complete, with assistance from Ag Services to seed the grass. Wood processing for next year’s campground firewood has begun.

#9 Council Meeting Cancellation – The M.D. Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 27 has been cancelled due to the Christmas holiday schedule.

#10 Funding Support – Council approved a $7,000 contribution to Ronald McDonald House Charities for the Winterland Invitational Hockey Tournament Feb. 16-18, 2018 at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre and Glendon Arena. The event brings 20 Atom and Novice hockey teams together for a tournament dedicated to keeping families close during trying times. Council agreed to contribute $250 to the Edmonton Rural Bantam AA All Star Game on December 16 at the R.J. Lalonde arena being hosted by the Lakeland Panthers.

For more information, contact Diane Jenkinson, Marketing and Communications Manager at 780-826-3171. Our website is a useful way to get the information you need. Visit: www.md.bonnyville.ab.ca Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MDBville.